An important step in the process job search, is to prepare
your résumé and cover letters. How important is this step? Many career
specialist think the résumé is the
"corner stone of the job search."
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Its the main marketing tool
you will use to sell a certain product to an employer: that product is
you. More importantly its the first contact you'll have with an
employer.
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In
addition, the résumé becomes you SCRIPT for the job interview!!
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Because of its importance, you
should spend considerable time experimenting with a variety of résumé
formats and different layouts.
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Individualize
the résumé to reflect your own personality, and skills. There
is not a "wrong" or "right" way to prepare a résumé,
unless the reader cannot identify your skills, that is a problem.
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However, there are some basic
guidelines that will help you prepare a résumé that will be reviewed
favorably by employers.
As you prepare your résumé, try to think of
it from the point of view of the person who will be reading it. In
other words, do not force the reader to "work" to discover your
skills. They are trying to find out the value you may bring to their
operation. They know the skills, and the behaviors they are looking for.
If they cannot easily find those skills and behaviors on your résumé,
you will not get the interview!!
Did you know that recruiters really dislike
reading résumés? It may be the least liked part of their job.
They will not read your résumé word for word, from top to bottom! As a
group, they just don't.
Remember, their job is to find the best
candidate, for the least amount of money, as quickly as they can. If they
have a stack of résumés to go through, they will scan for skill sets,
and behavior patterns, and that will average about 30 seconds, maximum!!
So, if they can't see your skills, that is, the value you bring to
their organization in 30 seconds or less, you will not get the interview.
Other Links:
The Damn Good Resume
Web Site
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